We all love to attend weddings. There is something about a wedding which thrills and excites us. As we look into the face of the radiant bride, her joy flows into us. She is so in love with her bridegroom!
In ancient Jewish tradition, the bride had a time of preparation prior to her marriage. She did not know when her bridegroom would come for her; she must be prepared and ready to receive him at any time. Jesus' return for His Bride is much the same (Matt.25:1-12). Jesus is the Bridegroom who plans on marrying His true church, that body of believers who love Him with their whole heart.
Christians, ever since the early days, have been expecting Jesus to come for them. I have often wondered why it seems the first disciples erred in thinking Jesus would return shortly after His ascension. I now understand that if they had not been expecting Him at any time, the Bible would not be an up-to-date book for each generation! We still await His coming.
All we who call ourselves Christian are in a period of preparation for the coming of our Bridegroom. We are not surprised by the turmoil within established churches and the fall of large ministries who love money and a place of esteem more than they love their Jesus. The Bible tells us "judgment must begin at the house of God" (I Peter 4:17), and unless we Christians learn to obey our Bridegroom's instructions, we too will be judged.
We are to learn to love our Bridegroom, and to love one another with HIS love. We are told to love even our enemies (Matt.5:44), and to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matt.5:48). Human love can never be a perfect love; we must add to our human love the love of our God.
The church of Jesus Christ is realizing we are to become holy and without blemish (Eph.4:27), a pure and spotless Bride, before our Bridegroom will come for us. Before Jesus left, His prayer was: "Make then pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth...for future believers...that they will be of one heart and mind...the glorious unity of being one..."(John 17:17-26 LB).
Today Jesus is saying to His church: "Come ye who love the Lord, fast and pray, for behold your Bridegroom cometh."
© 1999, Doreen Palmer